1st Soyuz-2.1v/Volga launch with AIST - December 28 2013 1230UTC

[asmi]

Something new :
http://tvzvezda.ru/news/vstrane_i_mire/content/201312281816-vwo3.htm

Awesome! Finally we have a launch video!

[Lanista]

[Stan Black]

This is presumably the 14S54 third stage (is that the right designation? The Blok-I, anyway).
Transfer orbit apogee was at 1325 UTC over the Antarctic; presumably the Volga burn began around that time.

Soyuz-2.1v is a two stages launcher :

- Bloc A (14S55)
- Bloc I (14S54)

It carries also an upper stage :

- Volga (14S46)

Yes, second stage. I meant to say second stage. Hard habit to break, thinking of the Blok I as third stage all these years!

I've also seen '132KS' for the first stage? (maybe from Anatoly Zak?)

By the way it looks like catalog 39490 to 39494 have been reserved for 2013-78A to 78E, which
will be Aist, two spheres, the Blok I stage, and the Volga stage with attached adapter.

Two references exists for 132КС as the 1st stage.
http://www.kbkha.ru/?p=8&cat=8&prod=74#
http://www.samspace.ru/zakupki/plany_zakupok/

Also refered to as 374БЛ04.

Just re-checking this, it appears that 131КС is for the whole Soyuz-2-1V, whilst 132КС is for something called Союз-2-1ВУ?

132КС is the first stage:-
http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum13/topic9953/message1116649/#message1116649
http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum13/topic9953/message1133416/#message1133416

Also fairing is 98КС, which was based on 11С529, which was based on 11С516.

[SoheilEsy]

Just spotted this gets to be the last launch of 2013.

Unless the Iranians or some other player launch one unexpectedly!

Postponed to 2014

[pargoo]

     Some be-autiful pre-launch pics over on the NK forum

[Phillip Clark]

This is the first Soviet/Russian launch vehicle to have a single single-chamber liquid-propulsion main engine on the first stage (albeit with thrusters surrounding it).

[Skyrocket]

This is the first Soviet/Russian launch vehicle to have a single single-chamber liquid-propulsion main engine on the first stage (albeit with thrusters surrounding it).

No, the Shtil had also the same configuration.

[Phillip Clark]

This is the first Soviet/Russian launch vehicle to have a single single-chamber liquid-propulsion main engine on the first stage (albeit with thrusters surrounding it).

No, the Shtil had also the same configuration.

You're right - I had completely forgotten about them.   Thank you.

(I think that this is my 1,000 posting here ........)

[owais.usmani]

New longer video fro TV Zvezda:

http://tvzvezda.ru/news/forces/content/201312291302-35ic.htm

[input~2]

Still 5 Objects with refreshed TLEs to-day, makes me wonder if Volga was really deorbited...

[jcm]

Still 5 Objects with refreshed TLEs to-day, makes me wonder if Volga was really deorbited...

I was just about to post the same comment!  Assuming the TLEs are accurate, another possibility is that
that big cylindrical adapter was jettisoned from Volga as a payload separation test

[input~2]

Still 5 Objects with refreshed TLEs to-day, makes me wonder if Volga was really deorbited...

I was just about to post the same comment!  Assuming the TLEs are accurate, another possibility is that
that big cylindrical adapter was jettisoned from Volga as a payload separation test

An insider on NK says that Volga re-entered over the Pacific Ocean
http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum12/topic12873/message1181342/#message1181342

[panzmead]

The fifth object may be the 188KS adapter/conical cap on top of the payload "can".

[jcm]

The fifth object may be the 188KS adapter/conical cap on top of the payload "can".

Is there any reason to think that the 188KS would have separated from the can?
(obviously possible, but I would have thought more likely the whole can would separate
from Volga, as a simulation of normal payload deploy...)

[russianhalo117]

The fifth object may be the 188KS adapter/conical cap on top of the payload "can".

Is there any reason to think that the 188KS would have separated from the can?
(obviously possible, but I would have thought more likely the whole can would separate
from Volga, as a simulation of normal payload deploy...)

i understand that at one time there were plans to simulate the operations of deploying a secondary payload from within the the payload dispenser thus 188KS would have needed to be jettisoned first. ultimately no secondary payloads were launched.

[jcm]

The fifth object may be the 188KS adapter/conical cap on top of the payload "can".

Is there any reason to think that the 188KS would have separated from the can?
(obviously possible, but I would have thought more likely the whole can would separate
from Volga, as a simulation of normal payload deploy...)

i understand that at one time there were plans to simulate the operations of deploying a secondary payload from within the the payload dispenser thus 188KS would have needed to be jettisoned first. ultimately no secondary payloads were launched.

Ah, interesting. Then that's a plausible explanation.

[Artyom.]

Does anybody have this photo in high resolution ?

[input~2]

Radar cross sections for the 5 in orbit objects have now been published:
Object A 10.316 mē (confirmed as 2nd stage)
Object B 0.634 mē (my guess: SKRL-756 #1)
Object C 0.137 mē (my guess: Adaptor 188 KS)
Object D 0.2693 mē (my guess: AIST)
Object E 0.630 mē (my guess: SKRL-756 #2)

(image source: TsSKB Progress)

[Danderman]

I would guess that the big adapter that holds the satellite to Volga is still attached to Volga, to generate a radar cross section of 10 m3.

[input~2]

I would guess that the big adapter that holds the satellite to Volga is still attached to Volga, to generate a radar cross section of 10 m3.

No, Volga and the attached "big adapter" re-entered over the South Pacific soon after separation of the "payloads".
The radar cross section of 10 mē is reflected by Soyuz second stage still in orbit (Object A)